Cigarette lighter



Aug. 2, 1955 A. MGNEILL CIGARETTE LIGHTER Filed Jan. 4, 1949 l 7 e 5 o 57. Y dif d ma w ,//r n 9 T. N f i f m c ,m m N .m S u Z 0u 5, 3f M, www3% J 4J 7 m J 1 l fsw 0.. M 3 J /rD \\r///. fw: l .1| A 3 Z i l 3 3 J Nww Hur /J Z 2,714,30@ Patented Aug. 2, 1955 lice croAnE'rTE LIGHTERAngus McNeill, Chicago, Ill., assigner to The Parker Pen Company,Janesville, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application January 4,1949, Serial No. 69,115

10 Claims. (Cl. 6'7-7.1)

This invention relates to a lighter for cigarettes, cigars and the like.

In the present forms of lighters the flint is maintained in a fixed orstationary position, causing after the first few operations, a concavesurface on the top of the flint,

causing the friction wheel to be in contact with the flint top for itsentire diameter, plus the amount of concavity, this broad smooth surfacecauses the spark production lo be uncertain, and the great contact areaexerts a braking effort upon the free rotation of the friction wheel.

lt is, therefore, the object of this invention to provide a lighter inwhich the flint is carried in a sleeve that is caused to rotate witheach operation of the friction Wheel, thus maintaining a constantly flatllint top, giving the friction wheel a point contact with said flint atall times. This greatly facilitates the sparking ability of the lighter,also this reduced contact area reduces the braking effect on the freeturning of the friction wheel, causing it to turn with much less effort.

Another object of the invention is to produce a cigarette lighterinwhich the flint is caused to rotate so that even if a point of lowvolatility is encountered in the flint, the flint will be readilyrotated past the point, whereby the friction wheel and flint will coactto produce the spark.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lighter for cigarettesand the like which is extremely simple in construction and inexpensiveto manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of thefollowing description.

ln the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of the lighter according to thepresent invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the lightermechanism;

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 1.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 1i) designates a body,and secured to the lower end of the body 1G* is a bottom plate 11 whichhas a portion 9 projecting beyond the body 1t). The projecting portionis provided with an aperture 12 for a purpose to be later described.Arranged in the upper end of the body lll and secured thereto is a topplate 13 which also has a portiony 14 projecting beyond the body 10,there being an opening 15 arranged in the top plate 13. A suitable cover16, Figure l, is pivotally connected to the top plate 13.

Supported on the top plate 13 and secured thereto, as by welding, is asuperstructure or frame 17 which includes a bottom member 13 providedwith an opening 19 which registers with the opening 15 in the top plate13. A pair of spaced, parallel side members 20 and 21 project from thebottom member 18 and are secured thereto.

A sleeve 22 is provided with a longitudinally-extending bore 23, and thelower exterior portion of the sleeve 22 lil) is cut away, as at 24, andprojects through the aperture 12 to denne a bearing shoulder forrotatably supporting the sleeve 22 on the projecting portion of thelower plate 11. The bore 23 is threaded, as at 25, for a portion of itslength, and a headed screw 26 is arranged in engagement with thethreaded portion 25. A flint 27 is slidably arranged in the bore 23 andis adapted to project out of the upper open end thereof, there being acoil spring 28 arranged in the bore 23 for normally urging the flintinto engagement with a striking or friction wheel 29. The sleeveslidably projects through the registering openings 15 and 19, and aplurality of spaced, circumferentiallyextending teeth 3d formingabutments are arranged around the upper end of the sleeve 22 for apurpose to be subsequently described. An arcuate shield or guard 31extends between the projecting portions of the bottom and top plates andis secured thereto for preventing the users fingers from contacting therotating sleeve 22.

The friction wheel 29 is rotatably supported on a shaft or pin 32 whichprojects through a spacer block 33 and the shaft extends between theside members 2t) and 21, the pin 32 being threaded into the side memberswhereby the friction wheel 29 can be removed and replaced as desired.Formed integrally with the wheel 29 or secured thereto is a plurality ofspaced gear teeth 34 forming abutments which mesh with the teeth 35 orabutments on the gear 36. The gear 36 is rotatably supported by a pin 37which is releasably threaded into the side member 2li and the face teeth35 of the gear 36 mesh with the teeth 3i) on the sleeve 22.

The teeth 3d on the wheel 29, the gear 36, having the teeth 3S and 35',and the teeth 3d on the sleeve 2, form a gear mechanism or train whereofthe teeth @il constitute a driven element, the gear 36 a drivingelement, and the teeth 34 a driving connection between the frictionwheel and the gear 35.

In use, the users thumb rotates the friction wheel 29 causing the gear35 to rotate to thereby rotate the sleeve 22 which carries and rotatesthe flint 27. The flint 27 is maintained in engagement with the frictionwheel by the spring 2S and rotation of the wheel 29 causes a spark to beemitted for igniting the wick 38. The end of the flint 27 will thus wearevenly to prolong its life and there will be a minimum of braking actionon the friction wheel 29. ln the event that a point of low volatility onthe flint 27 is in engagement with the friction wheel 29, then continuedmovement of the friction wheel 29 will move the llint past this lowpoint so that a spark will be readily produced. The movable sleeve andflint permit the friction wheel 29 to turn more freely, with lesseffort, and production of sparks is ensured.

As many embodiments may be made of this inven tive concept, and as manymodifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to beinterpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

This application discloses and claims subject matter also disclosed inmy Patent No. 2,624,188 granted I anuary 6, 1953 on application SerialNo. 154,237, filed April 6, 1950, which latter application was acontinuation of application Serial No. 709,459 filed November 13, 1946,now forfeited.

I claim:

1. ln a lighter, a body, a sleeve provided with alongitudinally-extending bore, means carried by said body mounting saidsleeve for rotation about its longitudinal axis, a friction wheelrotatably supported on said body, a flint slidably supported in the borein said sleeve for rotation on its longitudinal axis with the sleeve,means for feeding said flint into contact with said friction wheelindependently of the rotation of said sleeve, and a gear trainoperatively connecting said friction wheel to said sleeve for causingrotation of the sleeve and the flint lcarried thereby as said frictionwheel is rotated.

2. In a lighter, a body, a sleeve provided with alongitudinally-extending bore, means carried by said body mounting saidsleeve for rotation about its longitudinal axis, a friction wheelrotatably supported on said body, a flint slidably supported in the borein said sleeve for rotation on its longitudinal axis with the sleeve,spring means for feeding said flint into contact with said frictionwheel independently of the rotation of said sleeve, and a gear trainoperatively connecting said friction wheel to said sleeve for causingrotation of the sleeve and the flint carried thereby as said frictionwheel is rotated.

3. A lighter comprising a body, a bottom plate secured to the lower endVof said body and having a portion projecting beyond the latter, a topplate Secured to the upper end of said body and having a portionprojecting beyond the latter, there being an opening in the projectingportion of said top plate, a frame supported on said top plate andsecured thereto, said frame embodying a bottom member provided with anopening arranged in iregistry' with the opening in said top plate and apair of spaced parallel side members projecting from said bottom member,a sleeve provided with a longitudinallyextending open-ended boresupported on the projecting portion of said bottom plate and projectingthrough the registering openings in said top plate and frame bottommember, a friction wheel positioned between said side members androtatably supported by the latter, a flint slidably positioned in thebore in said sleeve and having one end in contact with said frictionwheel, resilient means normally urging said flint into contact with saidfriction wheel, and gear means operatively connecting said frictionwheel to said sleeve for causing rotation of said sleeve and the flintas said friction wheel is rotated.

4. A lighter comprising a body, a bottom plate secured to the lower endof said body and having a portion projecting beyond the latter, a topplate secured to the upper end of said body and having a portionprojecting beyond the latter, there being an opening in the projectingportion of said top plate, a frame supported on said top plate andsecured thereto, said frame embodying a' bottom member provided with anopening arranged in registry with the opening in said top plate and apair of spaced parallel side members projecting from said bottom member,a sleeve provided with a longitudinally-extending open-ended boresupported on the projecting portion of said bottom plate and projectingthrough the registering openings in said top plate and frame bottommember, an arcuate guard extending between said projecting portions andsecured thereto, a friction wheel positioned between said side membersand rotatably supported by the latter, a flint slidably positioned inthe bore in said sleeve and having one end in contact with said frictionwheel, resilient means in the bore embodying a coil spring normallyurging said flint into contact with said friction wheel, and gear meansoperatively connecting said friction wheel to said sleeve for causingrotation of said sleeve and the flint as said friction wheel is rotated.

5. In a lighter of the type having a fuel reservoir, means forconducting fuel out of said reservoir, a flint, a friction element,means mounting said friction element for movement across and in contactwith said flint in a direction to strike and throw a spark into the fuelat said fuel-conducting means, and means for feeding the flint intoposition for contact with said friction element, the

combination of means slidably carrying said flint and rotatabletherewith about the axis of the flint, and a gear mechanism connectedbetween said friction element and said flint carrying means and actuatedby movement of said friction element for rotating said flint andflintcarrying means about the axis of the flint to present said flint tosaid friction element in progressively different rotational positions.

6. In a lighter of the type having a fuel reservoir, means forconducting fuel out of said reservoir, a flint, a friction element,means mounting said friction element for movement across and in contactwith said flint in a direction to strike and throw a spark into the fuelat said fuel-conducting means, and means for feeding the flint intoposition for contact with said friction element, the combination ofmeans slidably carrying said flint and rotatable therewith about theaxis of the flint, and a gear mechanism connected between said frictionelement and said flint-carrying means for rotating said flint andflint-carrying means about the axis of the flint upon movement of saidfriction element, to present said flint to said friction element inprogressively different rotational positions.

7. ln a lighter of the type having a casing member, a fuel reservoir,means for conducting fuel out of said reservoir, a flint, a frictionelement, means mounting said friction element for movement across and incontact with said flint in a direction to strike and throw a spark intothe fuel at said fuel-conducting means, and means for feeding the flintinto position for contact with said friction element, the combination ofa guide for said flint carried by said casing member for rotation aboutthe axis of said flint and guiding said flint for sliding feed movementby said feed means, said guide holding said flint for rotationtherewith, a driven element rotatable as a unit with said guide, anddriving means including a driving element carried by said casing memberin positive and continuous driving engagement with said driven elementfor turning the latter and thereby said guide and flint and acontinuously engaged driving connection between said friction elementand said driving element.

8. In a lighter of the type having a casing member, a fuel reservoir,means for conducting fuel out of said reservoir, a flint, a frictionelement, means mounting said friction element for movement across and incontact with said flint in a direction to strike and throw a spark intothe fuel at said fuel-conducting means, and means for feeding the flintinto position for contact with said friction element, the combination ofa guide for said flint carried by said casing member for rotation aboutthe longitudinal axis of said flint and guiding said flint forlongitudinal sliding feed movement by said feed means, said guideholding said flint for rotation therewith, `a driven element unitarywith said guide and rotatable about said axis and having aseries ofabutments thereon, and means including a driving element continuously inpositive driving engagement with the abutments of said driven elementfor turning the latter about its axis and thereby said guide and flintto an extent corresponding to the movement of said driving element and acontinuously engaged driving connection between said friction elementand said driving element.

9. In a lighter of the type having a casing member, a fuel reservoir,means for conducting fuel out of said reservoir, a flint, a frictionelement, means mounting said friction element for movement across and incontact with said flint in a direction to strike and throw a spark intothe fuel at said fuel-conducting means, and means for feeding the flintinto position for contact with said friction element, the combination ofa guide element rotatably carried on said supportrand carrying said feedmeans and said flint, said guide engaging said flint for sliding feedmovement of the latter on said guide and for rotation therewith, acircular series of abutments on said guide member, and a driving elementmovably carried on said casing member and having a circular series ofabutments meshing with the abutments on said guide member engageablewith said abutments for rotating said guide member and thereby saidflint and means drivingly connecting said friction element and saiddriving element.

10. In a lighter of the type having a casing member, a fuel reservoir,means for conducting fuel out of said reservoir, a int, a frictionwheel, means mounting said friction wheel for rotation across and inContact with said int in a direction to strike and throw a spark intothe fuel at said fuel-conducting means, and means for feeding the flintinto position for contact with said friction element, the combination ofa tubular guide member rotatably carried on said casing member andenclosing said feed means and said int except a portion of the latterwhich projects into abutment with said friction wheel, said guide memberengaging said flint for sliding feed movement of the latter therein androtation with said guide member, a driven element rotatable with saidguide as a unit, and gear means connected to and actuated by saidfriction wheel and including a driving element continuously in positivedriving engagement with said driven element for rotating the latter andthereby said guide and int, when said wheel is rotated.

References `Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,027,900 Ramsdell May 28, 1912 1,612,595 Mage et al Dec. 18, 19261,762,281 Stecker .Tune 10, 1930 2,529,326 Borthayre Nov. 17, 19502,617,285 Levene Nov. 11, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 28,273 Great Britain 1913297,188 Great Britain Sept. 20, 1928 626,585 Great Britain of 1947

